NZ vs ENG | Pacer Kyle Jamieson to miss three-match ODI series with side stiffness

‌New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson will miss the ODI leg of the England series starting in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Jamieson felt a stiffness in his side on Saturday while preparing for the series opener at Bay Oval.

The Kiwi pacer featured in the second T20I against the visitors in Christchurch earlier this week, picking up two wickets in his four-over spell during their 65-run loss. The Punjab Kings pacer returned to action during the ICC Champions Trophy earlier in February after a stress fracture to his back kept him out for a year.

New Zealand coach Rob Walter explained that they did not want to take any chances with the pacer’s fitness and decided to rest him as a precautionary step. Walter also hoped that Jamieson would recover in time for the home series against the West Indies next month.

"Kyle experienced some stiffness in his side after bowling today, and we didn't want to take any risks at this stage of the summer," New Zealand coach Rob Walter said. "We felt it was best for him to sit out this one-day series and give himself the best chance of being ready for the West Indies tour, which starts on November 5 in Auckland."

Jamieson will return to Christchuch for further assessment and the New Zealand head coach added that the side will wait till the conclusion of the first round of matches of the Ford Trophy, New Zealand’s domestic One-Day tournament, on Saturday. After the series opener in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, action will shift to Hamilton for the second ODI on Wednesday with the final ODI scheduled in Wellington next Saturday.